Remote control hood latch release mechanism

ABSTRACT

A remote control hood latch release mechanism having an actuator means adapted to be coupled to a latch mechanism release lever by a first cable means for actuating the latch mechanism from a remote location. A second cable means is coupled to the actuator means and extends to a locking means that is operable to immobilize the second cable means to prevent movement of the actuator means in unlatching direction.

United States Patent [191 Gebliard et al. I

[111 3,831,409 Aug. 27, 1974 REMOTE CONTROL HOOD LATCH RELEASE MECHANISM [75] Inventors: Harold C. Gebhard, Livonia; Alfred M. Keller, Dearborn, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn,

Mich.

221 Filed: May 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 358,776

[52] US. Cl. 70/241, 70/257 [51] Int. Cl. B601 25/04, E05b 65/19 [58] Field of Search 70/238, 239, 240, 241,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,989 2/1929 Pinkerton 70/239 2,227,253 2,766,607 10/ l 95 6 Kremer 3,797,287 3/1974 lba et a] 70/239 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Attomey, Agent, or Firm-Keith L. Zerschling; John J. Roethel [57] ABSTRACT A remote control hood latch release mechanism having an actuator means adapted to be coupled to a latch mechanism release lever by a first cable means for actuating the latch mechanism from a remote location. A second cable means is coupled to the actuator means and extends to a locking means that is operable to immobilize the second, cable means to prevent movement of the actuator means in unlatching direction.

12 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures 12/1940 Gill 70/238 REMOTE CONTROL HOOD LATCH RELEASE. MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cable-operated latch mechanisms for vehicle body closures, such as a vehicle body engine compartment hood or a luggage compartment lid, are known in the prior art. It is also known to provide key-operated looking devices for locking the movable elements of the Bowden cable against manipulation to release the latch mechanisms. Reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,572,790 issued Mar. 30, 1 97l to H. L. Kapanka for a recent disclosure of a Bowden cable latch mechanism release and a locking device for the cable.

In the prior art mechanisms, as exemplified byU.S. Pat. NO. 3,572,790, the locking device is key-operable by either a separate key or by the ignition lock key which must first be removed from the ignition lock before it can be used to unlock the hood latch release cable.

It is an object of the present invention to correlate the vehicle ignition lock system with a cable-locking mechanism, the cable being coupled to the actuator means operable to release the closure latch mechathe actuator means is rendered inoperable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention embodies a remote control hood latch release mechanism comprising a housing mounted on a support within a vehicle compartment. An actuator means is movably mounted within the housing. A first cable means extends between the actuator means and the hood latch mechanism release lever for transmitting movement of the actuator means to the release lever to unlatch the hood latch mechanism. A locking means is provided for rendering the actuator means inoperative to unlatch the hood latch mechanism. The locking action is achieved through a second cable means which is coupled to the actuator means and extends from the actuator means to the locking means. When placed in a locked condition, the locking means immobilizes the second cable means and prevents movement of the actuator means in unlatching direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the vehicle passenger compartment and the engine compartment disclosing the relationship of the mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the exterior of the actuator means used to release the latch mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of the mechanism housed within the actuator means housing and of the locking mechanism for rendering the actuator means inoperative; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the components of the actuator means and the locking means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is diagrammatically shown the environment in which the present invention is adapted to be used. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows the side panel 1 l and an instrument panel or dash structure 12 partly defining the forward boundaries of a vehicle passenger compartment, and a fender apron 13 and front wall 14 of the engine compartment ahead of the passenger compartment. Also shown is a steering column 15 having an ignition lock 16 and a gearshift lever 17 projecting laterally from the upper end of the column. The steering column is held beneath the dash structure 12 by a split clamp having a lower clamping member 18 and an upper clamping member 19.

A conventional latch mechanism 21 is positioned at the front end of the engine compartment. The latch mechanism is adapted to have latching engagement with a keeper device (not shown) carried on an engine compartment closure or hood (not shown). The latch mechanism 21 has a release lever 22 to which one end 23 of the movable wire element 24 of a conventional Bowden wire or cable 25 is adapted to be coupled. The Bowden wire or cable 25 is routed within the engine compartment over the fender apron 13 through the vehicle firewall 26 of the dash structure 12 to an actuating means, generally designated 27, mounted on the side panel 11 of the passenger compartment.

Extending above and longitudinally of the steering column 15 is a vehicle ignition switch activation rod 28. The rod 28 extends between the column-mounted ignition lock 16 and a muIti-contact switch box 29 supported on amounting plate 31 positioned on the upper surface of the upper clamping member 19. Movement of the rod 28 longitudinally of the steering column 15 and the consequent effect on the switch contacts contained within the switch box 29 determines the mode of operation for the vehicle, i.e., whether or not the accessories are energized, and whether or not the ignition circuit is de-energized or in a vehicle start or run mode.

seen in FIG. 4. The half sections are formed with elongated recesses 36 which, when the half sections are assembled, form an elongated chamber receiving the rod 32. One end 37 of rod 32 projects through an end 38 of the housing 33 and has pinned thereto a handle or hand grip 39. The other end 41 of the rod 32 is notched at 42 to receive an interlocked bushing 43 to which the end of the Bowden cable 25 movable element 24 is at tached. With this arrangement, when the actuator rod 32 is pulled to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 2 or 4, the movable element 24 of the Bowden cable is pulled in a direction to actuate the release lever 22 of the latch mechanism 21 in unlatching direction.

The present invention embodies the provision of a mechanism for locking the actuator rod 32 against movement in latch mechanism unlatching direction when the vehicle ignition lock is in locked condition. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the movable ignition switch activation rod 28.

An appendage or auxiliary housing 44 is mounted on the mounting plate 31 in alignment with the switch box 29. A second Bowden cable 45 is connected to the one end 46 of the housing 44. The housing 44 is formed with a longitudinally-extending cylindrical chamber 47, the wall of which functions as a guide means for a cylindrical slug 48 secured to the end 49 of a movable wire element 51 of the second Bowden cable 45.

The other end 52 of the wire element 51 is connected to an eye or cylindrical bushing 53 adapted to fit over a pin 54 projecting laterally of a pinion segment 55. The pinion segment 55 is carried on a shaft 56 journalled in the side walls 57 of the housing. The pinion teeth 58 on the pinion segment 55 are in mesh with rack teeth 59 on the underside of the actuator rod 32, as best seen in FIG. 3.

When the housing 44 is mounted on the mounted plate 31, it functions to guide the slug 48 on the wire element 51 for movement in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the activation rod 28. The rod 28 is movable through the housing 44 in the slot 61 that communicates with cylindrical chamber 47. The activation rod 28 carries an upstanding tab or abutment 62 movable across the path of the slug 48.

OPERATION When the vehicle ignition is in locked condition, with or without a key in the column-mounted key-operated ignition lock 16, the tab or abutment 62 on the ignition activation rod 28 lies in abutting relation to the slug 48 on the cable 51 (see FlG. 3). In this condition, the second Bowden cable 45 movable wire element will unyieldingly resist turning movement of the pinion segment 55 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. Since the pinion teeth 58 are in mesh with the rack teeth 59, the actuator rod 32 is held against movement from the solid outline position shown to the dotand-dash outline position. With the actuator rod 32 blocked against movement, no movement can be transmitted through this first Bowden cable 25 to the release lever 22 of the latch mechanism 21. The remote control system for operating the hood latch mechanism is thus in an operative or locked condition. Upon the ignition key being turned to any other position of the ignition switch lock 16, such as the accessory position, the start position or the run position, the tab 62 on the rod 28 is moved out of the path of the slug 48 thus releasing the pinion segment 55 for movement in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in H0. 3. If the actuator handle 39 is grasped and pulled from the solid outline position to the dot-and-dash outline position, the actuator rod 32 will be pulled to the left out of the housing 33. This movement of the actuator rod 32 is transmitted through the Bowden cable 25 movable wire 24 to the hood latch mechanism release lever 22 thereby unlatching the latch mechanism 21 and permitting the hood or closure to be opened.

Upon release of the actuator handle 39, the actuator rod 32 is restored to its at rest position by a compression spring 63 which may be positioned in an extension 64 of the housing 44. The spring 63 is trapped between an abutment washer 65 within the housing 44 and a second slug 66 on the extreme end of the movable wire element 51 (see FIG. 4).

The latch mechanism lever 22 may also be spring loaded and as a result would pull on the movable wire element 24 of the Bowden cable 25 thus tending to restore the actuator rod 32 to its normal at rest position as shown in solid outline in FIG. 3.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim: 1. A remote control hood latch release mechanism comprising:

a housing mounted on a support within a vehicle 1 0 compartment,

an actuator means movably mounted within the housing, a first cable means extending between the actuator means and a hood latch mechanism release lever for transmitting movement of the actuator means to the release lever to unlatch the hood latch mechanism, a locking means, a second cable means,

coupling means coupling the second cable means to the actuator means, the second cable means extending from the actuator means to the locking means, the locking means being operable to immobilize the second cable means to prevent movement of the actuator means in unlatching direction.

2. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the coupling means comprises a rack and pinion segment,

the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries the rack,

the pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack,

and the second cable means is connected to the pin- 3. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 2, in which:

the locking means comprises a guide means mounted on a vehicle steering column,

the second cable means being slidably received in the guide means,

an abutment means on the second cable means wtihin the guide means,

a blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means,

and a key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to immobilize the second cable means.

4. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 3, in which:

the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column,

the rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its end positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch.

5. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 1, in which:

the locking means comprises a guide means mounted on a vehicle steering column,

the second cable means being slidably received in the guide means,

an abutment means on the second cable means within the guide means,

a blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means,

and a key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to immobilize the second cable means.

6. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 5, in which:

the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column,

a rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its ends positioned to engage the. abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch.

7. A remote control hood latch release mechanism comprising an actuator means movably mounted in a housing,

and a first Bowden cable element coupled at one of its ends to the actuator means and at its other end to a release lever of a hood latch mechanism,

the first Bowden cable being operative to transmit movement of the actuator means to the release lever in hood latch mechanism unlatching direction,

wherein the improvement comprises:

a second Bowden cable element,

coupling means coupling one end of the second Bowden cable element to the actuator means within the housing for movement responsive to movement of the actuator means,

guide means mounted on a support means in which guide means the other end of the second Bowden cable element is received,

abutment means carried on the second Bowden cable element within the guide means,

blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means,

and key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to prevent movement of the second Bowden cable element,

the second Bowden cable element upon being held immovable preventing movement of the actuator means in hood latch mechanism unlatching direction. 8. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 7, in which:

the coupling means comprises a rack and pinion, one of which is carried on the actuator means and the other of which is connected to the second Bowden cable element. 7 9. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 8, in which:

the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries the rack, and the pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack and has the second Bowden cable element coupled directly thereto. 10. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 9, in which:

the support means on which the guide means is mounted is a vehicle steering column, and the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, the rod having an abutment means engaging portion positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch. 11. A hood latch release mechanism according to claim 8, in which:

the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries a rack, and a pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack and has the second Bowden cable element coupled directly thereto, reciprocal movement of the actuator means being transmitted by the rack and pinion to the second Bowden cable element. 12. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 11, in which:

the support means on which the guide means is mounted is a vehicle steering column, and the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, the rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its ends positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch. 

1. A remote control hood latch release mechanism comprising: a housing mounted on a support within a vehicle compartment, an actuator means movably mounted within the housing, a first cable means extending between the actuator means and a hood latch mechanism release lever for transmitting movement of the actuator means to the release lever to unlatch the hood latch mechanism, a locking means, a second cable means, coupling means coupling the second cable means to the actuator means, the second cable means extending from the actuator means to the locking means, the locking means being operable to immobilize the second cable means to prevent movement of the actuator means in unlatching direction.
 2. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the coupling means comprises a rack and pinion segment, the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries the rack, the pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack, and the second cable means is connected to the piNion.
 3. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 2, in which: the locking means comprises a guide means mounted on a vehicle steering column, the second cable means being slidably received in the guide means, an abutment means on the second cable means wtihin the guide means, a blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means, and a key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to immobilize the second cable means.
 4. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 3, in which: the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, the rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its end positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch.
 5. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 1, in which: the locking means comprises a guide means mounted on a vehicle steering column, the second cable means being slidably received in the guide means, an abutment means on the second cable means within the guide means, a blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means, and a key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to immobilize the second cable means.
 6. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 5, in which: the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, a rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its ends positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch.
 7. A remote control hood latch release mechanism comprising an actuator means movably mounted in a housing, and a first Bowden cable element coupled at one of its ends to the actuator means and at its other end to a release lever of a hood latch mechanism, the first Bowden cable being operative to transmit movement of the actuator means to the release lever in hood latch mechanism unlatching direction, wherein the improvement comprises: a second Bowden cable element, coupling means coupling one end of the second Bowden cable element to the actuator means within the housing for movement responsive to movement of the actuator means, guide means mounted on a support means in which guide means the other end of the second Bowden cable element is received, abutment means carried on the second Bowden cable element within the guide means, blocking means slidably guided within the guide means for movement into and out of abutting relation to the abutment means, and key-operated means operable to shift the blocking means into abutting relation to the abutment means thereby to prevent movement of the second Bowden cable element, the second Bowden cable element upon being held immovable preventing movement of the actuator means in hood latch mechanism unlatching direction.
 8. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 7, in which: the coupling means comprises a rack and pinion, one of which is carried on the actuator means and the other of which is connected to the second Bowden cable element.
 9. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 8, in which: the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries the rack, and the pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack and has the second Bowden cable element coupled directly thereto.
 10. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 9, in which: the support means on which the guide means is mounted is a vehicle steering column, and The blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, the rod having an abutment means engaging portion positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch.
 11. A hood latch release mechanism according to claim 8, in which: the actuator means is reciprocally movable in the housing and carries a rack, and a pinion is pivotally supported within the housing in mesh with the rack and has the second Bowden cable element coupled directly thereto, reciprocal movement of the actuator means being transmitted by the rack and pinion to the second Bowden cable element.
 12. A remote control hood latch release mechanism according to claim 11, in which: the support means on which the guide means is mounted is a vehicle steering column, and the blocking means is an ignition switch activation rod extending longitudinally of the steering column, the rod having an abutment engaging portion intermediate its ends positioned to engage the abutment means in at least ignition lock position of the ignition switch. 